What To Expect From Debate Moderator Chris Wallace Tonight

Chris Wallace’s goal to be little more than a “timekeeper” in tonight’s debate is, like so much that Fox News does, a gift to Donald Trump in the guise of fairness and balance

On the last Fox News Sunday, Wallace doubled down on his previous promise not to do any fact checking during the debate:

WALLACE: If I think there’s a need for me to intervene, I will, but I would prefer not to. And basically, you’re there as a timekeeper, but you’re not a participant. You’re there just to make sure that they engage in the most interesting and fairest way possible.

I wrote a recent post for Liberal America explaining Wallace's strategem is faux neutrality:

That’s obviously a help to Trump who seems to use lying as a campaign strategy.

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Yes, Wallace has been tough on Republicans, including Trump. But Trump’s unhingedbehavior at the last debate proves that robust moderation is needed. As Media Matters’ Eric Boehlert pointed out, previous debate moderator Anderson Cooper had an important effect on the campaign:

“Notably, it is only because of Cooper’s dogged questioning over the video of Trump bragging about commiting [sic] sexual assault that he was put on record denying he had ever committed that crime. Women have cited that public denial in coming forward to tell their stories about Trump this week.

Against the background of Trump’s rampant prevarications, Wallace is going to sit in the moderator’s chair and refuse to fact-check Trump. And Trump knows it.”

One reason Wallace might be so reticent is that his position as moderator (quite possibly thanks to Trump’s bullying) is loaded with conflicts of interest.

I agree with truman…the lack of fact-checking will be much less of a problem than the questions that will be asked. HOWEVER, if Hillary can maintain her steel will and rational mind, Trump will become ever increasingly frustrated and angry. Eventually, his head will explode, sending his orange hairpiece flying across the fucking room.

My best advice to Hillary is to be prepared to be dragged through the mud on the end of barbed wire. Be ready with, “Wait a minute!! Hold on just a second!! Not so fast!!” or any variation thereof. And if it gets to be too much of a double team stink fest, be prepared to bail!! And tell either Donald or Mike, “Fuck you and the horse you rode in on!!!” before walking off the stage.

Little Chrissie’s questions to Hillary will be focused almost exclusively on emails, Clinton Foundation, Bill Clinton’s relations with women and the golden oldie Benghazi. A partisan hack job reminiscent of the job Little Chrissie did on Bill Clinton.

At the debate’s end, Democrats will howl with indignation and GOPiggies will rejoice in the Fux Noise version of fair and balanced. Long term, the Presidential debate commission will not again have the discretion to choose any moderator without approval of the candidates.